USA > Minnesota > Rice County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 46
USA > Minnesota > Steele County > History of Rice and Steele counties, Minnesota, Vol. II > Part 46
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1
MR. AND MRS. C. P. SHALER
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1229
of the same house in 1869 and 1870, and again member and also speaker of the house in 1875 and 1876. He has been a member of the school board and of the city council. Since 1883 he has been treasurer of what is now Pillsbury Academy, and is also serving on the executive committee. Few men have been more active in Masonry in this state than Mr. Kinyon. He was the first Worshipful Master of Star in the East Lodge, No. 33, A. F. & A. M., and the second commander of Cyrene Com- mandery, No. 9, Knights Templar. Mr. Kinyon was originally a Douglas Democrat, but since the outbreak of the Civil War he has adhered to the Republican party. The subject of this sketch was married December 31, 1857, at Juneau, Wis., to Mettie Gillett, and to this union has been born one son, George R., president of the First National Bank. The life and character of William R. Kinyon need no eulogy from the pen of the biographer. His name has been prominent in the affairs of the county and state for over half a century, and in all that time his integrity has never even been questioned. Samuel and Dolly (Wheelock) Kinyon, parents of W. R. Kinyon, were staunch old New Englanders. The grandfather, Joshua Kinyon, was in the war of 1812. Samuel Kinyon was a successful farmer. The Wheclocks are one of the oldest families in Vermont. Isaac and Lydia (Harrington) Gillette, parents of Mrs. W. R. Kinyon, were natives of Wayne county, New York. They settled in Wisconsin in 1856, and later came to Minnesota. The father died at an early age, and the mother died in Owatonna in 1901.
Charles P. Sahler, a well known and highly esteemed citizen of Owatonna, was born at Baraboo, Wis., on June 15, 1857. His parents, August and Christena (Kline) Sahler, are both natives of Germany, from which country they emigrated to America in the carly forties. Upon their arrival here they located in Sauk county, Wisconsin, where they engaged in general farming for about twelve years. In 1869 they moved to Minnesota and located in Clinton Falls township, Steele county. All their household goods and various belongings were packed upon emi- grant wagons and Mr. Sahler, then a lad of twelve years of age, was engaged as teamster. He patiently guided his team, up hills, down dales, over creeks, through the woods, and over rough roads until his tedious journey was ended. Arriving at Clinton Falls, they purchased a 240-acre tract of prairie and tim- ber land, which with diligent toil and unceasing courage they succeeded in clearing, breaking and improving, until it now stands an ideal living place. Our subject received his early educa- tion at the district schools of Baraboo and Clinton Falls. Most of the time not spent at school was devoted to improvements on his father's farm, until 1880. In the spring of 1880, he
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HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
started for himself, renting a farm within the city limits of Owatonna, where he worked with the spirit of a good German until, after the lapse of a few years, he was able to purchase the farm. Mr. Sahler did not lay aside his ambition upon becom- ing owner of these premises, but purchased more land until now he owns 170 acres, all which lie within the city limits. During the month of December. 1880, he was married to Miss Sarah M. Batzle. In 1907, he rented his farm and in 1910 moved into the business districts of Owatonna, where he still resides. He is a good, big-hearted man, appreciated by his friends and the whole community. For several years past Mr. Sahler has served as alderman of the third ward. He is one of the organizers of the Farmers' Gilt Edge Creamery Association of Owatonna, and served as treasurer for eight years. In 1901 and again in 1910 he became president, which position together with that of man- ager, he still holds. For the last ten years he has been director of the Farmers' elevator at Owatonna, and is now president, and he is also a director of the Owatonna Canning Factory and of the Washintgon Tool Company of Owatonna. He was influential in organizing the Steele County Fair Association, and at present holds the office of director and second vice president of that organization. Mr. Sahler received nothing by luck or chance ; but owes all to his good honest dealings and his unceasing toil. His political sentiments are with the Republican party, his re- ligious faith with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
Charles J. Kinyon, cashier of the First National Bank of Owatonna, is one of the substantial men of Owatonna, and has taken his part in its municipal and financial progress. He was born in Jefferson county, New York, May 17, 1848. and received his education in the public schools, supplementing this with a thorough business course in the Hungeford Collegiate Institute, at Adams, N. Y. In 1870, as a young man of twenty-eight, he came to Owatonna, and after working in a bank for a short time, entered the grocery business. He then went back east, but after a short period returned to Owatonna, and became teller in the First National Bank. In 1875 he became cashier, and in 1883 was elected vice president. In 1906 he again assumed the duties of cashier, in which position he is still serving. Possibly Mr. Kinyon's most distinguished service to his fellow citizens has been his work in connection with the water supply of Owatonna, he being practically the originator of the present system. He was city treasurer four terms, and alderman from the second ward four terms. During the latter period he served as acting mayor for a short time. Mr. Kinyon was married in September, 1874, to Charlotte E. Wardwell, a native of New York State.
1
THOS. E. CASHMAN
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HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
To this union have been born three children: Fayette C., is assistant cashier in the First National Bank of Owatonna; Wil- liam W. is employed by the Alexander Lumber Company ; Edna A. married Richard D. Collins, of Winton, Minn. The family residence is pleasantly situated at 331 East Vine street. The parents of C. J. Kinyon were Samuel and Dolly Kinyon, natives of New York State. The father went to California with the gold rush in 1849, and died at sea while on his way back to New York. The mother came to Owatonna in 1874 and died in June, 1881.
Hon. Thomas E. Cashman, the well-known nurseryman, has achieved an enviable position in the state, both as a man of public affairs and as a successful and progressive horticulturist. His nursery business is constantly growing, and his political friends predict that in public life the state senatorship is but a first step which will lead him on to still greater honors. Mr. Cashman is a native son of this county, born in Clinton Falls township, September 2, 1871, and lived on the home farm till he became of age. He attended the public schools of his neighborhood and the parochial school at Owatonna, after which he began his career by working a short time at the carpenter's trade. He felt a call, however, to wider fields of activity, and accepted a position as traveling salesman for a nursery concern. Seeing the opportunities for a young man in the nursery busi- ness, Mr. Cashman, in 1898, purchased a small tract of land inside the city limits of Owatonna, and started in business for himself on a small scale under the name of the Clinton Falls Nursery Company. The growth of this business was steady and satis- factory. In 1901, came a necessity for an enlargement of the scope of the industry, and a company was incorporated with Thomas E. Cashman, M. R. Cashman and W. H. Hart as the stockholders, and one year later took in J. R. Laughlin and J. A. Cieszinski. In 1906 this company added 100,000 square feet of glass for greenhouse purposes, devoted almost entirely to the cut flower business, and in 1908 added an extensive seed department. This combination is among the largest of its kind in the United States. Mr. Cashman is a director of the Security State Bank of Owatonna, and belongs to the Knights of Colum- bus, the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. The subject of this sketch is a staunch Democrat in politics, and has been active in the councils of his party. He served for a long period as a member of the school board of Owatonna, and ably filled the mayor's chair of the city for two terms. In 1906 he was elected to the Minnesota state senate for a term of four years. It is a tribute to the personal popu- larity of Mr. Cashman and a testimonial of the confidence he has
1232 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
won. that he carried a nominally Republican county by a plurality of over 300 votes. Mr. Cashman was married September 14. 1897, to Margaret J. Laughlin, a daughter of J. H. Laughlin, of Merton township, Steele county. The Cashman home has been blessed with five children: Katherine, Mary, Eugene, Edwin and Genevieve.
Edward and Mary (Welch) Cashman, parents of Senator Cashman, are natives of Ireland and Massachusetts, respectively . They came to Minnesota in 1867 and located in Clinton Falls township, Steele county, where they are still engaged in farming.
Mr. Cashman was appointed president of the State Horti- cultural Society in 1910, and is also president of the Minnesota Farmers' Institute board.
Julius F. Young, an honored veteran of the Civil War, and for forty years a business man of Owatonna, has made an enviable record for himself. both in military and civil life. He was born in Germany, February 28, 1845, son of Friedrich and Julia Young. In the Revolutionary times of 1849 the father took an active part on the side of the people, losing life and prop- erty.
The mother, as a refugee, came to New York City, and in 1852 to Stillwater, Minn.
The subject of this sketch was reared by his grandmother in Germany until 1859, when he came to St. Paul, Minn., learning the watchmaker trade, working there until 1862, when he went to Wisconsin, enlisting in Company A, of the Twentieth Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry. While at St. Louis, Mo., he was made orderly to Major General Herron, with whom he served in the Army of the Frontier, in the Thirteenth Army Corps during the Vicksburg campaign and in the Department of the Gulf. When the commanders were changed, he became orderly for Major General Gordon E. Granger, who commanded the corps. In the campaign against Mobile, Ala., when Mobile was captured, he stayed at Mobile and became orderly for Major General Canby until July 1865, when he came to Madison, Wis., for muster out of the service. He was in the following engage- ments : The Battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., where he was wounded in the left shoulder and lip; the capture of Van Buren, Ark .; the capture of Fort Smith, Ark., and a number of skirmishes in Missouri and Arkansas; the siege of Vicksburg and the battles leading thereto ; the capture of Yazoo City ; the battle of Achafa- layo. La. At Achafalayo bridge, while delivering dispatches to the Nineteenth lowa and Twenty-sixth Indiana, he was captured with these regiments and taken to Tyler, Tex., where in about two weeks he with others escaped to Fort Smith. Ark .. rejoining without delay his command at New Orleans, La., in time for the
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1233
General Banks expedition to the Rio Grande, where he partici- pated in the capture of Brazos Island and Point Isabel, the battle of Brownsville, the capture of Corpus Christi and a skir- mish at Cortina Ranch, Tex. ; also in the invasion of Madamoras, Mex., for the protection of Americans during the battle between Imperial and Loyal Mexicans. Ile was left on Commodore Farragut's flagship. "The Hartford," to be sent back with dis- patches to General Granger as soon as an opening for the army was effected. He witnessed the terrible havoc to the fleet while passing the batteries of Fort Morgan and Gaines. the blowing up and sinking of the Monitor Tecumseh, with 126 men, close to the Hartford; the thrilling naval battle and capture of the Con- federate ram. "Tennessee"; the siege of Fort Morgan and en- gagements of Bassecour (Fish river), Ala .; the battle of Pasga- goula, Miss .; expedition to Pascavello Bay, Fla .; the siege of Spanish Fort and Blackley and the capture of Mobile, Ala. He served until July, 1865, and was mustered out at Madison, Wis. He subsequently came to Owatonna, Minn., and worked at his trade until January, 1866, and then started a jewelry store on Bridge street, where he continued business for forty years, meet- ing with reasonable success, retiring from business in 1906. He was married July 30, 1872, at Owatonna, to Rosalie Caroline Dinnijes, a native of Watertown, Wis. Four children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Young: Eleanor R. and Ca- milla A., living at home ; Julius F. and an infant boy, both de- ceased. Mr. Young is a Unitarian in his religious belief, and in politics is a progressive Republican. He is a member of James A. Goodwin Post No. 81, G. A. R., Owatonna. By hard work and strict attention to business he has accumulated a com- petence, owning the "Young Block," on Bridge street, Owatonna, and also property in St. Paul, Minn.
Claude J. Clefton, president of the Clefton Company, and one of the well known citizens of Owatonna, was born in Muk- wonago, Wis .. May 24, 1867, and when nine years of age was taken by his mother to Madison in the same state. There he attended the public schools, and subsequently learned the plumb- ing and heating trade, working at this line in Madison for five years. In 1885 he came to St. Paul and engaged in similar work. His first experience in Owatonna was in 1888, when he installed the heating plant and did all the plumbing in the state public school buildings, the first work of this kind in the city. He then entered into business at Faribault with his brother. under the firm name of the Clefton Brothers. A short time afterward the firm took the contract for installing a public sewer in Owatonna, and subsequently opened a general plumbing establishment here. After a few years, David W. Sperry be-
1234 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
came a partner, and the firm name was changed to Clefton Brothers & Sperry. In the meantime the firm continued to grow in importance, and the volume of business increased ma- terially. Three years after Mr. Sperry's admission to the firm, Claude J. Clefton purchased the interest of his brother Sewell, and the firm name became Clefton & Sperry until Mr. Sperry's death. The business was then continued under the name of the C. J. Clefton Plumbing & Heating Company, until 1905, when G. J. Clefton purchased a half interest. In 1908, S. M. Clefton purchased an interest, and a branch was opened at Austin, Minn. In 1910 the business was incorporated, with C. J. Clefton as president, the firm name being "The Clefton Company." The company has been very successful, its business dealings are conducted on a high plane of integrity, and its work is of the best. The subject of this sketch belongs to the Masonic order and to the I. O. O. F., the K. of P., the C. of H. and the B. A. Y. He is a member of the park board of the city of Owatonna, and chairman of the committee on fountains and grounds. He was married December 23, 1890, at Mukwonago, Wis., to Mena Gul- bronson, of that place, and to this union have been born three children : Clyde M., May 11, 1892; Herbert E., Feb. 1, 1896; and George S., Oet. 25, 1899. The family faith is that of the Episco- pal Church, and the residence is a comfortable home at 622 East Vine street.
George W. Morford, formerly a prosperous farmer, now re- tired from active work and living in Owatonna, was born in New York state on September 17, 1831. He is a son of Cyrus W. and Mary (Riggs) Morford, both natives of New York, who in 1843 came to Wisconsin, where the father worked at his trade as a carpenter for the remainder of his life, dying there in 1857. The mother is also dead. Mr. Morford was educated in the public schools of New York. After leaving school he took up farming until 1854, when he came west, locating first in Wis- consin. In March, 1856, he came to Owatonna and pre-empted 160 acres of land in section 6, Owatonna township; broke and cleared the land, built himself a home and followed general farming until 1894, when he retired from active work and moved to the city of Owatonna, where he now lives. He was married, December 23. 1857, to Miss Sarah A. Weller, of Lyons, N. Y., a daughter of James and Harriet Weller, natives of England, who came to America in 1853 and located at Lyons, N. Y., where they engaged in farming the rest of their lives. The father died in 1862, and the mother is also dead. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Morford. Alice C. is in the art department of Pillsbury Academy and lives at home with her parents; Harriet E., a teacher in the public schools of Owa-
HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES 1235
tonna since 1893, is now principal of the Lincoln school. In his political views Mr. Morford is a republican, and in his religious faith he is a Baptist. He has served his town as supervisor, and also as assessor, and has been a member of the school board of Owatonna. By the hard labor of himself and his good wife he has acquired a competence, and they are now living in retire- ment in their pleasant home in Owatonna, where he still takes an active interest in all that pertains to the advancement of the city and county.
Dana P. Sawyer for many years went in and out among the people of Summit township, his character and life a living ex- ample of righteous industry and unswerving integrity. He was born in Vermont, July 29, 1840, and there received his early education. In 1866, he came west and located near Geneva, in Freeborn county. There he purchased cighty acres of land. Later he sold the land and moved to a farm near Blooming Prairie. In 1881 he came to Summit township and purchased eighty acres, to which he added from time to time, until he owned 240 acres of well tilled land. He was successfully en- gaged in farming at the time of his death, October 29, 1900. He was a Republican in politics, a director of the school board of his district and a prominent member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Sawyer was married March 28, 1888, to Melinda McFall, and to this union were born four children : Ira, of Summit town- ship ; Mabel, wife of Ralph Burshem, of Summit township; Floyd and Elwain, who are at home with their mother. Mrs. Sawyer was born in McKean county, Pennsylvania. April 8, 1854, and came west with her parents, Chester and Phoebe M. (Garlick) McFall. in 1863, locating in Summit township, where they farmed all their days. The father died April 8, 1901, and the mother August 21, 1898.
George W. Moriarty, who farms on the family homestead in Summit township, is well liked throughout the community. He was born in Franklin county, New York, April 6, 1866, son of John and Ellen Moriarty. He attended the public schools and then took a course in the Lawrenceville (N. Y.) high school. Then he learned the carpenter's trade, and in 1884 came west and became a contractor for the Duluth & Iron Range railroad, until 1895. when he came to Summit township and took up his residence on the old homestead, which, one year later, lie pur- chased. He has since successfully carried on general farming. Mr. Moriarty was married June 23, 1897. to Alice Farr, of Geneva, Freeborn county, daughter of R. P. Farr, a prominent farmer, and Isabelle Hill, his wife, who died August 29, 1901. Mrs. Moriarty was born September 2, 1875. To her happy union with G. W. Moriarty have been born three children : Marie I ..
1236 HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
January 16, 1899; Alice I .. October 13. 1903, and George R., January 15, 1902.
John and Ellen Moriarty, parents of George W. Moriarty, were natives respectively of New York state and Ireland. the mother having come to this country at the age of nine years. After living for a time in New York state, they came west in 1884 and located in Steele county on 100 acres in section 35. They built a home, developed and improved the land and fol- lowed general farming. The mother died in 1886, two years after coming to Minnesota. The father sold his farm to his son in 1897, and lived with him until his death. April 13, 1909.
Isaac W. Ferguson, a respected citizen of Summit township. was born in Chenango county, New York. December 23. 1849. son of Stephen and Catharine ( Ruliffson) Ferguson, life-long residents of that state. He received his education in the public schools and remained in his native state until attaining his ma- jority, at which time, in 1870. he came west and located in sec- tion 30. in Summit township. After ten years he sold this land and moved to Marshall. Lyon county, remaining there thirteen years. Then he lived in Freeborn county for five years, and sub- sequently returned to Steele county and purchased his present farm in section 31, where he has since successfully farmed. Mr. Ferguson is a stockholder in the Ellendale creamery. A thor- ough friend of civic righteousness. he is determined that the Prohibition party has found the sure cure for the greatest of the evils with which the country is afflicted, and has been an earnest worker in the ranks of that party for many years. In the Methodist Church he is a steward and trustec, and his serv- ices on the official board for many years have been highly valued. He has also been superintendent of the Sunday school twelve years and chorister of the church for a considerable time. The subject of this sketch was married. December 23, 1868, to Marie Tabor, who was born in July. 1851. and died August 25, 1872, leaving one daughter, Josephine E., who was born January 12. 1870, and died February 4. 1874. Mr. Ferguson was married. October 16, 1877. to Emma Cusick, born in Monroe county, New York, April 9. 1857. To this union have been born three chil- dren : James Raymond, born September 9, 1884, and died June 10, 1886; Harold. born December 8, 1885. his father's right-hand man on the farm: Catherine Avis, born August 9. 1890, and died September 24, 1898. Stephen and Catherine (Ruliffson ) Ferguson were natives of New York state, of Scotch and Ger- man ancestry respectively. The former followed farming in New York state all his life, and died in 1855. The latter passed away in 1878.
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HISTORY OF RICE AND STEELE COUNTIES
Thomas M. Anderson, a well-known farmer of Havana town- ship, has the honor of having been the originator of the station of Anderson and the postoffice of Lysne, having given several acres of his land to the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Com- pany for the purpose of establishing a station at this advan- tageous point. The subject of this sketch was born in Norway, January 2, 1858, son of Mons Anderson Vold and Martha Thors- tondotor Grathe, his wife, who came to America in 1861, bring- ing with them young Thomas, who at that time was but two and a half years old. Locomotion was slow in those days, and being hindered by high winds and rough weather, they were fourteen weeks in making the trip in the old sailing vessel in which they had embarked. They at last reached land, and after another tiresome journey, found themselves at Red Wing, where a num- ber of fellow countrymen had already settled. Hearing of the good lands about Holden, they made the trip to that township, going mostly by foot. There the father engaged in farming for six years, having the usual trying experiences and privations of the early pioneer days. At first the family lived in a dug out, and later built a log cabin. At the time of the Indian outbreak, it was often rumored that bands of the bloodthirsty savages were headed toward Goodhue county, and night after night, a little band of immigrants, consisting of five or six families, would gather in the dugout armed with pitchforks, axes and other weapons, while the children, filled with fear of the savages in a strange country, cried all night. But the scare passed, and life moved on in its accustomed channels. In 1867 the Anderson family came to Havana township. The trip from Holden to Rice Lake, Havana township, was made by ox team. Sloughs and marshes impeded their progress, and the trip through Rice Lake woods was made over an old corduroy road of logs, the wagon bumping from one log to another. Reaching their des- tination, the father purchased eighty-eight acres of mixed prairie and timber land in section 28, adding to this from time to time and improving the whole until he had a fine farm of 165 acres. On this farm. Thomas M. passed his boyhood and received his education in the district school. His school days over, he as- sisted his father on the home farm until the latter's retirement in 1883, when he purchased the home place, on which he has followed general farming ever since. Mr. Anderson is a staunch believer in up-to-date agriculture, and aided by modern buildings and equipment, has developed one of the finest farms in the county. He is a stockholder in the Havana creamery. In politics he is a supporter of the Democratic party, and has always taken an active interest in public affairs, at present serving his tenth year as clerk of school district, No. 91. He has been
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